ARTE France
ARTE, the Association relative à la télévision européenne, was established in 1991 and is based in Strasbourg. It is a Franco-German public broadcaster that primarily airs documentaries, feature films, and news programs.
Media assets
Television: ARTE
State Media Matrix Typology
Independent State-Managed/Owned (ISM)
Ownership and governance
ARTE Group is structured under a European Economic Interest Grouping (GEIE) and includes two corporate entities: ARTE France and ARTE Deutschland TV. ARTE France is majority-owned by France Télévisions, which holds a 45% stake. The remaining ownership is divided among the French state (25%), Radio France (15%), and INA (15%).
The main governing body of the ARTE group is the General Assembly, which consists of 12 members – six from each of its German and French units. They meet four times a year in Strasbourg. The assembly is responsible for making key decisions regarding the company’s strategy, approving the group’s business plan, and appointing the ARTE group’s management board, which oversees the company’s daily operations.
The Management Board (Comité de Gérance) runs day‑to‑day operations and includes four members: President, Vice‑President, Programme Director, and Administrative Director.
Following the 2025 leadership rotation, the President of the GEIE is Heike Hempel (starting January 1, 2025), previously from ZDF, while Bruno Patino serves as Vice‑President.
Source of funding and budget
ARTE derives nearly 95% of its funding from a license fee paid by citizens; it is prohibited from running advertising but may generate supplementary income through sponsorships.
Funding for ARTE France is governed by a four‑year agreement with the French state, detailing program objectives and resources; the French Parliament approves its detailed budget annually as part of the national budget.
ARTE comprises two corporate entities: ARTE France and ARTE Deutschland TV. Each entity publishes its own financial reports. In 2020, ARTE had a budget of €140.1m, according to the station’s annual report. In 2022, the company’s total budget increased to €148.9m, according to data from the group.
The GEIE headquarters budget for 2024 stands at €152.539 million in both income and expenditure. Contributions break down as: from ARTE France (€70.834 million), from ARTE Deutschland (€70.834 million), and own income (€10.871 million). Spending includes programs (€50.064 million), staff (€20.914 million), non‑program expenses (€12.849 million), and European projects (€1.744 million), with a balanced result (€0.00).
Editorial independence
ARTE’s editorial operations remain insulated from direct government control. Its notable reputation persists as an independent public‑service broadcaster with various European co‑productions.
Editorial decisions are handled by a program committee that convenes monthly in Strasbourg. Members include the Programme Director, three ARTE representatives, and one representative from each national unit (France and Germany).
A Program Advisory Committee, composed of prominent figures from civil society and the arts—eight from France, eight from Germany—provides guidance to the Management Board and General Assembly on programming matters.
Financial and governance integrity are upheld via internal audits guided by auditors elected at the General Assembly (from both national units), along with an external auditor performing oversight of the Management Board’s compliance with resolutions and legal frameworks.
A whistleblowing policy remains in place, ensuring staff and collaborators can report issues without fear of reprisal.
August 2025